KENYA-ATHLETICS: Ezekiel Kemboi, Kenya's double Olympics 3000m steeplechase gold medalist, has assault case against him withdrawn

Record ID: 362442

  • Title: KENYA-ATHLETICS: Ezekiel Kemboi, Kenya's double Olympics 3000m steeplechase gold medalist, has assault case against him withdrawn
  • Date: 23rd October 2012
  • Summary: ELDORET, KENYA (OCTOBER 23, 2012) (REUTERS) WIDE SHOT OF ELDORET LAW COURTS KENYAN FLAG FLYING OUTSIDE ELDORET LAW COURTS KENYAN COAT OF ARMS DOUBLE OLYMPIC 3000M STEEPLECHASE GOLD MEDALIST EZEKIEL KEMBOI ARRIVING AT THE COURTS PREMISES RESIDENTS OUTSIDE LAW COURTS KEMBOI'S ACCUSER ANN NJERI OTIENO ARRIVING AT THE COURTS PREMISES RESIDENTS OUTSIDE THE COURTS PREMISES NJER
  • Embargoed: 7th November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAABXTE9AI9HOUQD36AQNSNOT9W
  • Story Text: An assault charge against Kenya's 3,000 metres steeplechase World and Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi has been dropped after his accuser withdrew the case, saying she had "forgiven" the athlete.
    Kemboi was facing charges of assaulting Ann Njeri Otieno, who claimed in June that the runner attacked her with a knife when she declined his advances after they had been drinking together.
    Kemboi rejected the accusation, saying he was innocent.
    The flamboyant Kemboi, a police officer, was allowed by Kenya's Olympic Committee to participate in the London Olympics in August.
    Kemboi announced his retirement from the track moments after his victory to start a marathon career.
    Kemboi, Olympic steeplechase champion in 2004 and 2012 and World Champion in 2009 and 2011, and Njeri appeared before principal magistrate Francis Kiambiya on Tuesday (Ocotber 23) when she dropped the charges.
    Kemboi's lawyer Michael Chemwok said he had been ready to defend the case had it proceeded, but now considered it closed.
    . Following the withdrawal of the case, Chemwok said that the two parties agreed the matter was solved.

    "The complainant, as you can see, has decided on her own volition to withdraw the matter which we have also agreed, so I believe with the parties make amends or parties express their own feelings, we as lawyers has no business in denying them that opportunity," Chemwok said.
    Otieno said justice had been served by her forgiving Kemboi. She added that she wanted to focus on her career.

    "Justice has been served because I have forgiven Ezekiel Kemboi, he did not actually know I was going to withdraw the case, I just came here and decided on my own," she said.
    Kemboi, who was in court, did not speak to reporters.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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